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EU BON’s contributions towards meeting Aichi Biodiversity Target 19




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Musicians’ network aims to clamp down on instrument thefts

Anipo, a French-based network of musicians, has launched an initiative aimed at cracking down on stolen instruments. Anipo encourages musicians to install a chip on ... Read more

The post Musicians’ network aims to clamp down on instrument thefts appeared first on CMUSE.





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The 18 Weirdest And Funniest Craigslist Ads For Musicians

You can always count on Craigslist for some highly questionable listings but we all know the free online classifieds site has a reputation for publishing some unusual, ... Read more

The post The 18 Weirdest And Funniest Craigslist Ads For Musicians appeared first on CMUSE.




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Trump’s win brings uncertainty to borrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness

Student loan cancellation was not a focus of the campaign for either Trump or Vice President Kamala Harris, who steered clear of the issue at her political events.

The post Trump’s win brings uncertainty to borrowers hoping for student loan forgiveness appeared first on Boston.com.




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A voter-approved Maine limit on PAC contributions sets the stage for a legal challenge

The Maine initiative doesn't attempt to limit independent spending on behalf of candidates. It focuses instead on limits on individual donations to super PACS, an area the Supreme Court has not ruled on, observers say.

The post A voter-approved Maine limit on PAC contributions sets the stage for a legal challenge appeared first on Boston.com.










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Eggnog before Thanksgiving? Shoppers eager for a new season scramble retail calendars

In response to growing customer demand, stores of all stripes are bringing out their festive collections weeks before the Nov. 1 start of the holiday shopping season.

The post Eggnog before Thanksgiving? Shoppers eager for a new season scramble retail calendars appeared first on Boston.com.




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Maintaining professional relationships after being let go from a company—Elaine Varelas advises on an appropriate course of action

If you've been let go from your organization, is it appropriate to try to maintain the internal and external professional relationships you've made during your time there? What implicit and explicit rules exist around contacting former clients and colleagues? Elaine Varelas explores the many aspects of this situation.

The post Maintaining professional relationships after being let go from a company—Elaine Varelas advises on an appropriate course of action appeared first on Boston.com.




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As both a full-time employee and a primary caregiver to one of my family members, I am worried about potentially exposing my family to COVID. Is there anything I can do? Elaine Varelas guides

Being a primary caregiver while working full time is a challenge in itself and even more so during the pandemic. Elaine Varelas guides on how to best keep your family members safe while maintaining your work responsibilities.

The post As both a full-time employee and a primary caregiver to one of my family members, I am worried about potentially exposing my family to COVID. Is there anything I can do? Elaine Varelas guides appeared first on Boston.com.




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Wave of job-switching has employers on a training treadmill

“A lot of restaurants are in survival mode, and survival mode creates a vicious circle,” said Dominic Benvenuti, an owner of Boston Pie, which owns more than two dozen Domino’s locations in New England.

The post Wave of job-switching has employers on a training treadmill appeared first on Boston.com.







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This Maine farm has the best pumpkin patch, corn maze in America, according to USA Today readers

"There's just something about visiting a pumpkin patch, many with hayrides and yummy treats, that puts you in the fall spirit."

The post This Maine farm has the best pumpkin patch, corn maze in America, according to USA Today readers appeared first on Boston.com.









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Are You Afraid of The Dark?

In 1878, scientists all over the US witnessed a total eclipse of the sun. After that, American science was never quite the same.

Also: Sona Hosseini learns that being an astronomist….can be depressing; photographer Joel Sartore goes on a quest to take pictures of endangered animals before they disappear; why the American TV drama Twin Peaks took off in Russia; and we remember director George Romero who changed how we think about zombies.

(Image: A total solar eclipse is seen in Indonesia on March 9, 2016. Credit: Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images)




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Brain Gain

"Brain Drain" is what happens to a country when its best and brightest minds leave and don't return. The flip side of this is called "Brain Gain." But even when countries benefit from new arrivals, they don’t always make it easy for them.

We meet Maria Merza, working hard to overcome bureaucratic and social obstacles standing in the way of her education. Also: We visit a school in California that provides classes for parents as they drop their children off in the morning; We look at new training programmes for skilled trade jobs, aimed at immigrants; Also, Francenette SaintLouis Défonce was a nurse in Haiti, but the US won’t recognise her qualifications or experience; Finally, Harvard University student Jin Park pushes the boundaries of who can become a Rhodes Scholar.

(Ayat Alfares, left, is a “super senior” at Grace M. Davis High School in Modesto, California. Sarah Yousif, right, graduated from the school when she was 21 years old. Both students came to the US as teenagers and began high school later than most of their classmates. Credit: Maria Merza/The World)




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The long wait

The US and the Taliban are reportedly inching closer to a breakthrough in peace talks. But the Afghan government has been notably missing from these negotiations. Afghanistan's first female ambassador to the US, Roya Rahmani, says that the Afghan government's position regarding the talks is that ‘peace is the highest desire.’

Also, we’ll take you Tijuana, Mexico, just south of the US border, where migrants from all over the world are waiting for a chance to enter the US; and long lost relatives reunite and share their family history after being seperated by a legacy of slavery.

(Afghan Ambassador to the United States Roya Rahmani. Credit: Shirin Jaafari/The World)




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Covert affairs

An unauthorized Muslim immigrant from Uzbekistan was offered a deal by the FBI: You can remain in the US, but only if you'll spy on your fellow Muslims. He did, but then he decided he wanted to stop.

Also, the Trump administration declassified thousands of documents that reveal details of Argentina's so called ‘dirty war’; In Northern Thailand, the grandchildren of one-time CIA backed Chinese rebels transformed what used to be a secret hideaway to a tea-drinking tourist haven; and the FBI has had agents dedicated to fighting war crimes, but now that team is being disbanded.

(The J. Edgar Hoover Building of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Washington, DC. Credit: Eric Baradat/AFP/Getty Images)




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Ukraine under pressure

At the center of the impeachment showdown in the US, is nearly 400 million dollars in military aid that the Trump administration temporarily withheld from Ukraine. At a US military base in western Ukraine, business goes on as usual but Ukrainian military veterans are worried that they may be losing support. President Trump has been a reluctant supporter of Ukraine, and he has called Ukraine a corrupt country on numerous occasions. Ukrainians are under pressure, as they fight to overcome corruption and continue to seek US support in their conflict with Russia.

(US military personnel from the Wisconsin National Guard participate in a transfer of authority ceremony at the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine base in Yavoriv, Ukraine. Credit: Daniel Ofman/The World)




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Keeping faith

The coronavirus has fundamentally changed how we live our lives, but perhaps most heartbreakingly, how we deal with death. Around the world, centuries-old burial rituals have been abandoned. Even something as simple as a hug for a grieving friend is now essentially out of bounds. We look at how communities and individuals are adapting.

Also, writer and lawyer Wajahat Ali talks about faith in times of turmoil; many religious leaders are turning to video conferencing as an alternative to in-person services, but for orthodox Jews, that is problematic; we hear a Buddhist perspective on isolation and enlightenment in the time of Covid-19; and religious leaders tackle the big question: why.

Image: Pallbearers bring the coffin of a deceased person to be stored into the church of San Giuseppe in Seriate, near Bergamo, Lombardy. (Credit: Piero Cruciatti/Getty Images)





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Parents of Hingham student disciplined for using AI await federal judge’s ruling

The paper was never completed after the teacher discovered its use of AI. The high schooler received a zero and was allowed to start again. He was given a D on the second effort.

The post Parents of Hingham student disciplined for using AI await federal judge’s ruling appeared first on Boston.com.




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American Airlines tests boarding technology that audibly shames line cutters

American Airlines is testing a new technology at three airports across the country during the boarding process that aims to cut down on passengers who try to jump the line

The post American Airlines tests boarding technology that audibly shames line cutters appeared first on Boston.com.





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Federal agencies say Russia and Iran are ramping up influence campaigns targeting U.S. voters

The Russian Embassy called the officials' announcement “baseless” in an emailed statement, saying Russia “has not interfered and does not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, including the United States.”

The post Federal agencies say Russia and Iran are ramping up influence campaigns targeting U.S. voters appeared first on Boston.com.




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Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms, prompt investigations in Mass. and other states

Some students of color at Stoughton High School were among those who received such messages, according to a statement from Stoughton Public Schools.

The post Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms, prompt investigations in Mass. and other states appeared first on Boston.com.





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3 Questions with Anna Leonova, Ukrainian Composer

Meet Anna Leonova! Anna Leonova is an Ukrainian composer of contemporary classical music, pianist, composition teacher, piano and music theory teacher, currently living in Qatar. At an ... Read more

The post 3 Questions with Anna Leonova, Ukrainian Composer appeared first on CMUSE.





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The Worship Podcast (Episode 13): Position or the People - Dustin Smith & James Galbraith

Today's podcast is a sit down with the hosts of All About Worship, Dustin Smith & James Galbraith, talking about the important of valuing people, over the titles or positions we hold.  God has asked us to be responsible - able to gauge a response - for the people we lead.  Enjoy!

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship (Dustin Smith & James Galbraith) and WeAreWorship (Wisdom Moon & Morgan Shirey).

Subscribe to the podcast:
theworshippodcast.com
linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
The Worship Podcast on Facebook
The Worship Podcast on Instagram
The Worship Podcast on Twitter





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The Worship Podcast (Episode 16): Should Worship Leaders Be Pastors? - Dustin Smith & James Galbraith

On this episode of The Worship Podcast, Dustin & James talk funny stories from leading worship, break down what community really means in a team environment, and do we really know how to do it effectively?  Worship leaders have to care about people.   Not unlike .... well you'll just have to listen.  Enjoy!

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship (Dustin Smith & James Galbraith) and WeAreWorship (Morgan Shirey).

Subscribe to the podcast:
theworshippodcast.com
linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
The Worship Podcast on Facebook
The Worship Podcast on Instagram
The Worship Podcast on Twitter





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The Curse Of The Daily Grind

I am going to do something that I rarely do.  I'm going to give you a practical tip for building a worship team.  One of the reasons that I tend to lean away from giving practical tips is because there are so many great worship sites out there who already lean on the practical stuff, that it can just get lost in the sea of information. But what I am about to tell you is something that you will very rarely hear anyone say.  The reason you won't hear it is because it does not have an immediate payoff and unfortunately we live in a microwave culture. If you can't heat it up and have it ready for consumption immediately, then we don't want it. The problem is that we have focused on our immediate needs so long that we have forgotten to build for the future.

If you have a large church or you are building a church from the ground up, here is my advice.  Work for today, but build for tomorrow.  I know that sounds simple and you think you are already doing it, but I'm not talking about working for Sunday and building for Monday. I'm talking about working on the immediate but building for the future.  Instead of just considering what your service will look like this week, consider what it will look like in ten years if you continue to do things the same way you always have.

I find that most leaders are so consumed with their weekly commitments that to think beyond next week is overwhelming.  I believe this is one of the reasons that the average lifespan of a worship leader at one church is about a year and a half.  We have focused on the short term so much that we have forgotten to make an investment in our future. When you are dealing with your finances you don't start over each day.  You take into account what you have and then you use it each day accordingly. But you also think ahead to future purchases, trips, family growth, etc. Most people are not choosing to invest in their ministry.  They are just running their ministry. Or their ministry is running them.

Here are a couple of ideas to get you started.  These are just ideas. They are not exhaustive by any means, they are simply to stir the pot.  They will get you to think outside of your week, outside of your setlist, outside of yourself.

#1 Instead of spending so much time on your team's musicianship, spend some time on their character.  Patience, excellence, good attitude, and peace will all help you have better musicians. If you focus on developing the music, then you will get better music.  If you focus on developing the people, then you will get better people, playing better music.

#2 While working with your current team, pour into a younger generation.  I am ok with hearing worship leaders frustrated that they don't have a bass player at their church.  What I am not ok with is hearing that same frustration five years later from that same person. What did you do during that five year period to train someone up to play the bass?  Get a bass, hand it to a 12-year-old and get that kid lessons. Then get your youth teaching the younger kids. Create a culture of music so you never have that problem again.

#3 When you hear about a problem, handle it right away.  I don't let problems carry into our future. Some people let things drag on too long because they are only concerned about how they feel right at that moment.  The pain of dealing with the problem seems greater than the pain of allowing it to continue, but that is never the case. Never let situations be in control. As a leader you need to be in control  I have seen too many situations control leaders and their responses. This means that situations are dictating your future because you have allowed it to be the loudest voice.

If you have ever seen a cathedral it is because someone thought beyond a day.  They looked into the future and saw you. They wanted you to know that there were some before you that believed in the glory of God and they wanted to create a place on the earth that testified to His greatness!  May we do the same!





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The Worship Podcast (Episode 18): What Does Revival Worship Sound Like? - Dustin Smith & James Galbraith

On this episode of The Worship Podcast, Dustin and James talk about their experience in revival movements, as well as lessons learned and things to consider for your worship experience.  What's the new sound?  Where is the sound of worship headed?  You might be surprised at their answer.

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship in partnership with WeAreWorship.

Subscribe to the podcast:
theworshippodcast.com
linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
The Worship Podcast on Facebook
The Worship Podcast on Instagram
The Worship Podcast on Twitter

 





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The Worship Podcast (Episode 19): Holy Distractions Batman! - Dustin Smith & James Galbraith

Today Dustin and James talk about all those pesky little distractions during worship. Is flag waving, pottery and painting true expressions of worship? I mean…really? Can someone be too loud during our praise and worship sets? Are these really distractions to us? Take a listen and let’s find out.

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship in partnership with WeAreWorship.

Subscribe to the podcast:
theworshippodcast.com
linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
The Worship Podcast on Facebook
The Worship Podcast on Instagram
The Worship Podcast on Twitter

 





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In The Waiting

 

Endure = Character = Hope

Have you ever been in a situation where all you can do is wait? Like say your car breaks down. You call AAA or something like that, and you wait. Or maybe you’ve been a part of one of those awesome phone calls when your internet isn’t working like it’s supposed to. They are incredibly generous with their time and will try to keep you on hold as long as possible. Most of us in the modern world hate waiting. Waiting almost has a negative connotation to it. People say stuff like, “Sorry to keep you waiting” all the time, yet waiting can be a great thing.

Sometimes in the waiting we are able to take a step back and breathe. Many of us are so busy not waiting, that we never take a second to slow down. I know from personal experience that being in a “waiting” season can be difficult, but also very rewarding. Sometime we are looking for answers that aren’t coming when we would’ve liked them. Or maybe we’re waiting for doors to open that we feel should’ve already been opened. It’s here, in the waiting, that something great happens.

Let’s read this amazing passage out of Romans 5:3-5

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

This verse right here has helped me keep my head above water during seasons where it felt like I was drowning. When we encounter trials or storms sometimes we just have to wait it out. But in the waiting, our endurance is built. This is a foundational principle that we must have established in us. How can we run the good race if we have no endurance? How can we be overcomers if we have nothing to overcome? The waiting period eventually builds endurance - character - hope. And I love how the verse reads that this hope will not lead to disappointment. We see the love of God in every battle and after every battle.

So don’t discount the waiting season. The bible says that those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. Those who wait, those who hope, and those who have been through a trial and have had their endurance built, their character sharpened, and their hope restored will be unstoppable. What can stop someone who’s hope in God can’t be shaken? Cherish the waiting times because it’s in those moments that we can sometimes hear God the clearest.

So take a step back and breathe. Then let your endurance be developed. Let your endurance build your character, and then let your character continue to strengthen your hope in God.






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The Worship Podcast (Episode 20): That 'Aint Right! When Worship Teams Behave Badly

Have you ever had a worship team member that just goes too far?  We have.  And one of them may be on this show!

Join Dustin, James and special guest, Erica, as we talk about how to best manage your worship teams in the most dire situations. Being a worship leader means working with people and people aren't always perfect! How do you handle those issues?  How do you keep things right on your team with God, but also care about the individuals?  We talk through hypotheticals, but for some of you listening, these circumstances might not be hypothetical.  Have a listen and see if you can relate.

We'd love to hear from some of our listeners about situations you've found yourselves in, and how you handled them with your team!

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The Worship Podcast is powered by All About Worship in partnership with WeAreWorship.

Subscribe to the podcast:
theworshippodcast.com
linktr.ee/theworshippodcast 

You can also connect with The Worship Podcast on social media:
The Worship Podcast on Facebook
The Worship Podcast on Instagram
The Worship Podcast on Twitter

 





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Shaikin: Baseball's best rivalry is no longer Yankees-Red Sox. It's Dodgers vs. Padres

The Dodgers and Padres have created the best rivalry in MLB through a willingness to spend on big-name players and be contenders every season.




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How certain foods can improve your mood, A decongestant in popular cold medicines doesn’t work at all, Green Coconut Curry Lentil Soup

This week Zorba and Karl discuss how certain foods can improve your mood, and they talk about the FDA claiming a decongestant in popular cold medicines doesn’t work at all. […]




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The Brody File: December 15, 2016 - The Trump Transition Train

This week on The Brody File, we bring you the latest on the Trump Transition into The White House. Plus, a closer look at how abortion has decimated the African-American community.